Best Thriller of the Year:THE BODIES LEFT BEHIND by Jeffery Deaver (Simon & Schuster)

Best First Novel:CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Grand Central Publishing)

Best Short Story:THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN by Alexandra Sokoloff (in Darker Mask)

Thrilled to be in that company - and very happy to be the estrogen in the lineup.

Then straight on to do signings at ALA, the American Library Association conference in Chicago.

And I have to say Chicago was as beautiful as I’ve ever seen it, ever – absolutely stunning weather, which I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say about Chicago before. I could almost have been lulled into living there if I didn’t know what happens around November. Or in July, actually.

On all fronts, a great week.

Headed into a couple of weeks of signings and interviews while doing revisions on BOOK OF SHADOWS and at the same time I have to sort out everything and, oh yeah, get back to blogging.

I'm so excited - you'll actually be in my neck of the woods in August! Well, maybe not the neck... perhaps the ankle... I'm in Orange County, which is driveably close to Riverside and San Bernadino. Anyway, hope to see you then!

And many, many congratulations on the award. When I saw the email from ITW, I just KNEW I'd see your name on the list of winners.

And Gayle, it would be great to see you at one of the So Cal signings.

I also had some feelings the story would win. It's set at the high school I went to and out of the blue, a few days before TFest, someone I went to school with but hadn't seen since that exact time period contacted me and it just felt like a sign.

And then at TFest my friend Hank Schwaeble was wearing snakeskin boots, which is a major clue in the story. I mean, what are the odds? That's when I pretty much knew.